Are you traveling to Thailand? Have you thought about checking out the festive and traditional events that might coincide with your travel dates? Here are all the festivals and events in Thailand to know for a complete immersion in the local culture…

January

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in January include:

New Year's Eve and New Year

Although the Thai New Year does not align with the one we are familiar with, December 31st and January 1st are public holidays in Thailand. On New Year's Eve, you can enjoy fireworks in all tourist cities, especially spectacular ones in Bangkok.

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

Since 1980, the village of Bo Sang in the northern part of the country hosts the Umbrella and Handicrafts Festival every third weekend of January. For 3 days, the streets and houses are adorned with beautiful colorful umbrellas typical of the region, and villagers flaunt their finest umbrellas. The festival also includes entertainment such as folk music, performances, and beauty pageants.

February

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in February include:

Chinese New Year (January or February)

Every year, between January 21st and February 21st, Chinese New Year is celebrated. For several days, Thai people of Chinese origin clean their homes to purify them and make offerings to their ancestors and Chinese deities. In major cities, especially in Bangkok's Chinatown, festivities such as parades, dragon dances, traditional dances, and Chinese cuisine are in full swing.

Makha Bucha

Makha Bucha is one of the three significant Buddhist holidays marking stages in Buddha's life. It occurs on the full moon day of the third lunar month and is a national holiday. This day commemorates the Great Assembly around Buddha in the Veluvana Bamboo Grove, where 1,250 disciples gathered to hear his teachings.

On this special day, Thais participate in various rituals: offering alms to monks and temples, joining candlelight processions around temples, and releasing caged birds symbolizing liberation.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

The Flower Festival is a colorful event held annually in Chiang Mai. It usually takes place on the first Friday of February and lasts for 3 days. Among the attractions are flower-decorated floats parade, beauty contests, dances, music performances, and gardening competitions.

March

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in March include:

National Elephant Day

Considered Thailand's national animal, the elephant holds a sacred place in Buddhist belief. It's no wonder it has its own day: Thai Elephant Day (National Elephant Day). Thus, March 13th every year is dedicated to honoring elephants through celebrations held across the country, particularly in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Kanchanaburi, and Surin.

April

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in April include:

Songkran, Thai New Year

A festive, family-oriented, and religious event, Songkran is the country's most important festival. It marks the Thai Buddhist New Year according to the lunar calendar. The exact date is determined by the lunar calendar but generally falls around April 12th.

According to tradition, Thais start by visiting temples to make offerings to monks and receive blessings. The festival then turns into a massive water fight across the country in a joyful atmosphere!

May

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in May include:

Royal Ploughing Ceremony

Also known as the Sacred Furrow Ceremony, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony marks the opening of the rice planting season. The date of this ritual is determined by astrologers to promote good harvests and is announced by the Bureau of the Royal Household. The ceremony takes place at Sanam Luang in Bangkok.

During the ceremony, sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plow to plow the field while royal brahmins sow rice seeds. Plates of food are then offered to them with specific ingredients. Depending on what they choose to eat, astrologers and brahmins predict whether the season will be abundant or not.

Coronation Day of King Rama X

May 4th marks the coronation day of King Rama X (His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua), the current king of Thailand. Since then, this date has been a public holiday.

Visakha Bucha

Similar to Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha is one of the most important days for Buddhists. A public holiday in Thailand, it falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 6th lunar month. This sacred day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. Thais visit temples to make their offerings.

Bun Bang Fai, Rocket Festival

Originally from Laos, Bun Bang Fai is a traditional Buddhist ceremony also held in northeastern Thailand, especially in the Isan region, in Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nong Khai.

The festival spans several days with the highlight being a competition of handmade rockets made from bamboo and papier-mâché. Why rockets? Because they are considered a means to reach the rain gods. These rituals aim to bring fertility and favor upcoming harvests. You can also see many representations of phalluses (symbols of fertility) in the streets.

June

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in June include:

Birthday of Queen Suthida of Thailand

June 3rd marks the birthday of Queen Suthida, wife of King Rama X and Queen Consort of Thailand since May 1st, 2019. It is a national public holiday.

Phi Ta Khon, Ghost Festival (between March and July)

The Phi Ta Khon festival is held once a year in Dan Sai, a small village in Lan Soei province, in the Isan region. The festival's opening date is determined by the lunar calendar and can fall between March and July.

The festival's name is slightly misleading as Phi Ta Khon ("Ghost Festival") refers specifically to the delirious dance that opens the festivity. The entire event is called Boun Bhavet, honoring one of Buddha's life episodes: when he was known as Prince Vessantara Jataka and returned from his journey presumed dead.

For 3 days, numerous activities take place (dances, animist rituals, mask parade, ghost costumes, rocket contests, spiritual contemplation…).

July

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in July include:

Asahna Bucha

After Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha, it's time to celebrate Asahna Bucha. This sacred holiday is a public holiday held on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month. It commemorates Buddha's first sermon and the Four Noble Truths of the religion. Thais return to their hometowns and visit temples to make offerings to monks and attend ceremonies.

Khao Phansaa

The day following Asahna Bucha is Khao Phansaa, a festival marking the beginning of the Buddhist Lent. It takes place on the 1st day of the waning moon of the 8th lunar month. From this date onward, monks confine themselves to temples and focus on scriptures, meditation, and prayer.

Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani

The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival takes place every year on Wan Asanha Bucha to mark the beginning of the Buddhist Lent. Highlights include a parade of floats decorated with candles sculpted by artists and a competition for the most beautiful candle. The parade is accompanied by dance, music, sound, and light shows.

Other cities also host this festival, but Ubon Ratchathani's is the largest and most renowned in the country.

Birthday of His Majesty King Rama X, King of Thailand

July 28th is the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), the current king of Thailand. It is a public holiday with many celebrations (fireworks, parades, official ceremonies…) held in his honor.

August

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in August include:

Birthday of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara and Mother's Day

August 12th marks the birthday of Sirikit Kitiyakara, former Queen Consort of Thailand and wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Parades and celebrations take place across the country. It is a public holiday that also celebrates Mother's Day.

September

Vegetarian Festival (September-October)

Of Chinese tradition, the Thai Vegetarian Festival takes place annually during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar (often between September and October). For 9 days, part of the population abstains from eating meat and observes several rituals (no sexual relations, no alcohol consumption, wearing white clothes…) to purify the body and mind.

The festivities continue with ceremonies aimed at invoking the gods, and participants pierce their bodies with various objects (pins, knives…) and perform astonishing physical feats like walking on hot coals.

Because the manifestations can be frightening, it is better to avoid attending with children or sensitive individuals.

October

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in October include:

Pavarana

After 3 months of retreat, the Buddhist Lent ends on the day after the full moon of the eleventh month with a ritual called Pavarana. At this time, monks leave their temples and are offered new saffron robes and food by the inhabitants.

Commemoration Day of the Death of King Rama IX

October 13th marks the death anniversary of King Bhumibol, Rama IX, former King of Thailand, who passed away in 2016. It is a public holiday during which Thais mourn.

Piyamaharaj Day

Translated as "day of the beloved great king," Piyamaharaj Day is celebrated in honor of the memory of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), one of the kingdom's most respected kings. It corresponds to the day of his death.

November

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in November include:

Loi Krathong, Festival of Lights

Loi Krathong takes place on the first full moon of the twelfth lunar month. It is one of Thailand's most beautiful traditional festivals. Also known as the Festival of Lights, this Brahmanic-origin festival offers a magical experience to all travelers who discover it.

Indeed, thousands of offerings lit by candles are placed on the country's waters to implore Buddha. To place their offerings, Thais create small traditional lotus-shaped rafts called krathongs. Other activities (fireworks, parades, beauty contests…) also take place.

Lopburi Monkey Festival

Located in central Thailand, Lopburi is a small town known for its impressive population of macaques. Every year, on the last Saturday or Sunday of November, the Lopburi Monkey Festival takes place, during which the population offers a giant buffet to the monkeys. This banquet is a sacred ritual given in homage to Hanuman, the Monkey God (macaques being considered his descendants).

December

Festivals and events to see and do during a trip to Thailand in December include:

Birthday of King Rama IX and Father's Day

December 5th is a public holiday corresponding to the birthday of King Bhumibol (Rama IX), former King of Thailand. Parades and celebrations take place across the country. It is also the day designated for Father's Day.

Constitution Day

December 10th is a public holiday in Thailand commemorating the country's first constitution (dating back to 1932), which transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

What about the Full Moon Festival?

Attention all partygoers, the Full Moon Party takes place every month on full moon nights on Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan Island. Thousands of tourists from around the world come here to dance all night to music with their feet in the sand. Discover all the dates of the Full Moon Party for the months ahead.

Florine Dergelet